Israel Souvenirs

After taking a suitcase full of clothes for the orphanage in Bethany we were left with a suitcase to fill with treasures from the Holy Land.

So what did we pack home?

Here's just a few items that caught our eye:

BYU Jerusalem Shirts! They aren't selling these babies at the local bookstore ~ what a find.

Sea of Galilee necklaces that the owners of the boats make using shells from the sea.

My widow's mite necklace! I was so happy to have one of these. And while it is just a replica, I'm thrilled. A real widow's mite was about $120 / replicas were around $35 (I haggled got this one cheaper than that)

Oil lamps that look very much like the ones from 2000 years ago, just not as expensive. There were several antiquities shops that had the real McCoy - they were amazing, but these pleased me just as much. And they will work with a wick and olive oil. A great reminder to keep our lamps full.

We purchased a few pieces of Olive Wood, but this was the one that I liked the most. The carvings are done in Bethlehem from branches pruned from the local olive trees. We also purchased a Noah's Ark, a Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane and a Lion and Lamb carving.

We did pick up some cool things for the boys too. Josh got a ram's horn (same kind that Joshua used when the walls of Jericho fell). Ethan got a mosaic kit in remembrance of all the FABULOUS mosaics that we saw. And Emma got a lamb which is in remembrance of the Good Shepard who loves the children.

What a great trip we had ~ and how much more I am enjoying the holiday season this year. I'm a crying mess every time a Christmas Hymn is played and I see in my mind the places of the Holy Land. SUPER COOL!

Day Book Entry

FOR TODAY, December 15, 2008 ...

Outside My Window...
It is dark. It's 6:00pm and I can see the Dome of the Rock at the end of the street (a mere block away). Otherwise, I see the 50 people from my tour group hanging out in the lobby waiting to head back home to America.

I am thinking...
That my choice to wear a skirt the day I rode on a camel was NOT my most brilliant choice.

I am thankful for...
My soft and comfortable pillow and bed that I have missed these many days.

From the kitchen...
Instead of 'from the kitchen', I'm having food from the roadside. LAMB KABOBS and FALAFEL!! I have some new favorite foods. And a strange man cooking kabobs with his dirty hands and serving it in a fresh pita is oddly heavenly. YUM!

I am wearing...
Dirty clothes. I want clean clothes - these will have to last me a 12 hour flight to Newark / a two hour flight to Houston / a 5 hour layover in Houston / and a 2 hour flight home where I will fall into bed after kissing my babies!!

I am creating...
Memories!

I am going...
To teach my family to play Crowns when I get home. This is just a fun, simple game that I've played with some old ladies in the evenings. Good times!

I am reading...
Physik. I know. I should be reading the Bible or something like that. But I'm still the 'human- fault-ridden-Wendy', who can't be religiously minded 24/7.

I am hoping...
The plane doesn't crash (I don't have the right pants on) and that I don't sit by the annoying voice lady on the plane ride home.

I am hearing...
The Muslim call to prayer. (A church volunteer at the BYU Center takes it as his opportunity to express his love to his wife every time he hears it - kind of a good idea, because after a while it gets a little tedious).

Around the house...
Hopefully around my house the kids are anxiously awaiting my arrival tomorrow. And hopefully around my house my parents are still alive and sane. (Is that even possible if they weren't sane before they came to my house?)

One of my favorite things...
One of my favorite things about Israel has been interacting with the people. Today, for example, I met an old woman who runs an orphanage in Palestinian Bethany. She is kind, humble and poor. Yet she is someone who adds much to the society she lives in. How gratifying to give aid to her orphanage and interact with her. COOL!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
Enjoy my kids and the holiday season. Nothing has put me more in the holiday spirit than missing my kids and being here. I am ready for some Christmas!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...


(The bad idea skirt wearing day! Luckily I'm posting the photo where the least amount of leg and underwear is showing.)

Israel Part 4

A few interesting things I have learned (so far) about Israel.

1. Arab hotels have floors numbered -1, 0, 1, 2, 3 , etc. Floor zero is the lobby.

2. Israeli's have "compelled service" in the military. They are required to give 3 years of service to the military (2 for the girls). After that they may choose to join officially. If they don't, they still must serve one month each year until they are 42 years old (or 28 for girls - so they can raise a family).

3. Any open space on the side of the road is considered parking.

4. The car horn (or bus horn) is a completely over used method of communication. It means, "get the HELL out of my way" and "I'm coming through and not stopping for you".

5. The call to prayer from the Dome of the Rock is really cool to hear, unless it happens at 5am every morning.

6. Elderly people will complain about almost everything!

7. Hotel card keys in America at super cool and is so much more convenient than carrying around a room key on the end of a 5lb hunk of metal.

8.You should NEVER, NEVER pass up an opportunity to send your kid to the BYU Jerusalem Center for a term!

9. Pomegranates are delicious! And eating tomatoes and cucumbers for breakfast every morning is actually tasty.

10. Not all people enjoy ice cold water. Some enjoy it warm or lukewarm for drinking. I am not one of those people. Getting cold water here is unheard of - not that they don't have it, they just don't like it.

Israel Part Three

Yeah, I warned you all that there would be alot of these . . . .

Today's report is about the missionary graves in Haifa.

The graves of John Alexander Clark and Adolf Haag, both from Utah, are located here. These boys both served missions for the church in Israel and died while there.

Only the Lord could have foreseen that their deaths would lead to something great. . . The existence of the BYU Jerusalem Center. Without establishment that the church had been there prior to Israel becoming a state, we wouldn't have been allowed to have this building. And the graves of these two missionaries proved it.

Bob placing a stone on the grave of Elder Haag (I think)

And Elder Clark's grave who was from Farmington, Utah

"Birth into the world of spirts is a glorious privilege and blessing. The
greatest spirits in the family of the Father have not usually been permitted to
tarry longer in the flesh than is necessary to perform a certain mission.
They are called to the world of spirits where the field is greater and the
workers fewer." (President Heber Q. Hale, Idaho Stake)

Israel Part Two

Tiberias is on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. From our hotel we can look out on the sea and we are within comfortable distances to some of the Savior's many miracles. Completely cool stuff!

One of my favorite things about this area was our FABULOUS boat ride out onto the Sea of Galilee. The day was overcast but not stormy. We had a wonderful opportunity to sing "Master the Tempest is Raging" while on our ride. This was very moving to me and that's saying something as I'm usually a huge skeptic and stinker when it comes to manufactured spiritual moments. Guess you can't deny the location and beauty sometimes and the spirit gets through.

Don't think it was all spiritual hijacking as we danced to traditional Israeli music on board the boat after the song. We then had a lovely lunch sitting outside overlooking the sea. I ate Saint Peter fish, also known as Tilapia which had been freshly caught from the sea. I was dead in my tracks thinking of this and the fishermen of the Savior's time. Of course, I was brought back to reality as I watched local fishermen in motorized boats fish right in front of us with their nets. Still REALLY, REALLy cool to see as I ate my fish.

Bob & Carol on board the 'Jesus' boat that was specially made in Egypt for the boat owners

The dancing on board the boat! Just an unrelated sidenote but the cute Jewish boys have nice butt cracks (I'm pretty sure the Spanish ladies in our group took a photo - I refrained (barely)

My lunch of fries and St. Peter fish. It was fresh and VERY delicious! It made Carol sick just looking at it and she couldn't eat her chicken. We fed the bazillion stray cats who stared up at us from the shore. (Note the Pepsi Max cans -- this is Diet Pepsi - YUM)

The beautiful Sea of Galilee

Important Israel Info

Diet Coke IS available in Israel!

I am paying anywhere from $2 - $3 per bottle for it, but some mornings afternoons, it's worth it. And when I say "I am paying", clearly I mean "Jeff is paying."

Israel Part One

In numbering the different parts of this trip, I realize that there is potential to get to Part One Hundred before I'm finished. Please do not abandon me during my reports. Perhaps check back in after a month to see where I'm at.

Today I want to report on one of our first stops in Israel. We went to the college in Netanya. It is a small college serving only about 4,000 students.

As a group we had gone to see the Orson Hyde Square that the college has created on their campus. The college has a Strategic Dialogue group that encourages positive dialogue between religions that is phenomenal. The group's leader created this square as part of his agreement to take the post at the college.

The square is really quite something. All students must pass through it as they enter the college. As part of the square there are olive trees dedicated to each of the presidents of the LDS church. There is a sign with the president's information at the base of each tree.

In addition there are 6 palm trees dedicated to those LDS elders who have dedicated the Israel land for the return of the Jews. I was thrilled to see that one of my family's relatives had his name on one of these palm trees: Francis M Lyman.

The young Jewish assistant to the Strategic Dialogue group spoke to us of the school's mission. It is an honorable and important mission geared towards getting the Middle East people working together. He, himself, is a Jewish man from Canada who just happened to feel the need to move to Israel . . . interesting, eh?

~ My Relatives Plaque ~

~ Jeff and I in front of Thomas S. Monson's newly planted olive tree. We have had 4 hours of sleep in the last 48 hours in this photo ~

~The 6 palm trees, Francis Lyman is the third one from the left ~

Fear of Flying?

Remember how I have paranoia?

Riding in an airplane is part of that paranoia. I'm fine if they fly straight and smooth, but the turbulance and banking turns put me in a tizzy.

Proof of my nerves is my selection of clothing for the flight . . . windbreak type pants. I figured if the plane goes down I could slip my pants off and more easily tie a knot in the pant legs and use them as a parachute than if I wore Levi's.

My paranoia was a little more heightened on the Newark to Tel Aviv leg when they announced that there should be no congregating near the bathrooms. I figured this was because the terrorists had done this before taking over the planes on 9/11.

The first time I went to the bathroom on the flight there was virtually no room for me to get to it. There were about 5 large men hanging out and congregating at the restroom! I freaked! First, this was totally against the warning from the flight attendants and Second, I have a phobia about using the restroom with people around

(Sidenote: In college I would walk half way across the campus in the evening to use the restroom instead of using the one in my dorm room where my roommates were -- it's a real phobia for me)

Anyway, I stewed all trip about this until finally I struck up a conversation with one of these burly, scary, bathroom congregating men. Come to find out, he's a New York Police Officer. He's on the plane with 29 other police officers on their way to Tel Aviv for terrorist training!

He was the nicest man and was open to chatting. He's Jewish and was great to talk to me about his religion and his job. I was truly fascinated with him and had a great talk. Something I should've done BEFORE I went to the restroom. . ..

Flying out of Newark on a 777 where police officers can congregate near bathrooms

Holiday Stress Relief

As the holidays get closer the stress always rises. Here is a stress
management technique recommended in all the latest psychological texts,
in the end, you will smile.


This really works.


1. Picture yourself near a stream.


2. Birds are softly chirping in the cool mountain air.


3. No one but you knows of this secret place.


4. You are in total seclusion from the hectic place called "The World."


5. The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with cascading
serenity.


6. The water is crystal clear.


7. You can easily make out the face of the person you are holding
underwater.


8. See, you are smiling already. :-)


How sad is it that I'm still picturing the lady from Toys R Us under the water?

Things to Think About

When you find that quiet moment in your day, here's some things to think about. My favorite is number 17. Enjoy!

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt or a leaky tire.

3. It's always darkest before dawn, so if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.

4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.

6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

7. If you think nobody cares if you 're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is probably not for you.

10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

11. If you always tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

12. Some days you're the bug, some days you're the windshield.

13. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

14. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

15. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

16. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side - and it holds the universe together.

17. There are two theories to arguing with a woman - Neither one works.

18. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

19. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

20. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative at the same time.

Job Posting

(From a fun email sent to my by Auntie Pat - Thanks!)

PARENT
Job Description

POSITION :
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :
Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment.

Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.

Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

The rest of your life.

Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.

Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.

Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.

Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.

Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.

Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.

Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.

Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.

Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.

Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :

None.

Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :

None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :

Get this! You pay them!

Offering frequent raises and bonuses.

A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent.

When you die, you give them whatever is left.

The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :

While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

** AND A FOOTNOTE ? THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!! **
If you are fortunate enough you will become grandparents!

Gift Giving Guide for Men

A simple gift giving message for the man in you life:

Click HERE if clicking on the dog house doesn't work.

Book Review

I wanted to just make a few observations about The Memory Keeper's Daughter, which I read almost a month ago. It's not the phenomenal writing that has kept this book on my mind, but some of the things it has made me think of. I wanted to enumerate a couple of the ideas that have really affected me.

1st - This book begins with the birth of twins, one of which has Down's Syndrome. The doctor who delivers the babies, and is also the father, makes a choice to institutionalize the baby girl with Down's. He makes this choice without his wife's consent. He tells his wife the baby died.

While his choice to institutionalize the child is probably a normal thing during that time period, the perpetuation of a lie is what strikes me the most. The lie becomes an element in their lives that tears things apart.

I value honesty and the truth. I believe that even though the path may seem difficult when telling the truth, it is still ten times easier than the path with the lie. I love this quote:

We tell lies when we are afraid... afraid of what we don't know, afraid of
what others will think, afraid of what will be found out about us. But every
time we tell a lie, the thing that we fear grows stronger

2nd - The mother of the twins spends time grieving for the loss of her 'dead' baby girl. She feels the loss deeply without ever having touched her child. The loss of her baby girl makes her expect further loss and hurt at every turn. The mother becomes protective of her baby boy that has lived. She worries and becomes overprotective.

I really liked how this idea was conveyed in the book. I took a good long look at my personal paranoia's. I have them because I have experienced loss that I thought could never happen. I have survived the loss, but I recognize more fully that bad things happen to good people. Even me. And knowing that, makes me worry that it will happen again.

While there wasn't a solution for not worrying, at least I gained a better recognition for why I am the worry wart that I am.

3rd - The nurse in the story who is instructed to institutionalize the baby girl ends up keeping the baby. The nurse takes this opportunity to have her own baby and leaves the state to raise the baby, knowing that the mother thinks the child is dead.

My personal view is that of contempt for the nurse. Yes, better to raise the child in love than in a facility. But so wrong to deny the mother the knowledge of her child for the nurse's desire. The doctor/father's secret should have been rectified between the nurse and mother (which it is too many years later).

I know the desire to have children. I know the thought process that says "this child is better off with me." And I know how hard it is to give up what you want most to ensure that you are not taking advantage of another woman. It's complicated and difficult, but sleeping at night is so much easier.

That's just a few personal thoughts on this book. It was a little long, a little depressing - but valuable to me anyway. Let me know if you've read it and what you think.

Barbie is a SKANK!

Any woman who attracts encounters like these, with your spouse, is a SKANK!



Maybe the 'toy' designers should be taken out back and shot as well, for putting Barbie's batteries in her THIGHS, which need a screwdriver and awkward positioning to access. SICK!

Justified Paranoia

You can only imagine the new heights of my paranoia after spending the morning watching some of these clips. I get that these people all turned out ok -- but there is still a HUGE Cringe and Worry factor.

Not for the faint of heart . . . .

Tots with Keys



Slipping Tot



Snorkeling Tot with really great picture at the end (seriously!)

Day Book Entry

FOR TODAY, November 24, 2008 ...

Outside My Window... I refuse today to look out my windows. Emma has been doing blowfishes on them and they are finger streaked. I simply refuse to see it!

I Am Thinking... of how much stuff I'm simply not going to get done today. Thank goodness there is tomorrow. (Yeah, I'm going to not do stuff tomorrow too)

I Am Thankful For... Good friends! I appreciate all theose ladies who are indulging me with my social experiments lately. Since the passing of my friend, Kim, I've been trying to be more social - in a way that includes others and hopefully makes them feel they way I did when Kim included me and others. Going to the movies this weekend with everyone was great! (the movie was so-so, check back later for pictures)

From The Kitchen... Nothing. Who can think of cooking anything after eating a yummy breakfast with friends at Mimi's Cafe? (look who's being social YET again!)

I Am Wearing... A USU T-shirt and ball cap. I am unable to wear BYU today. I am sending positive thoughts to Max Hall today though. That poor boy is probably wearing USU gear today too!

I Am Creating... Recipe Cards! Those are due this Friday people -- so get working on them and bring/send them on over.

I Am Going... to Israel soon and I'm NOT ready!!! Aaaaaggghhhh ~

I Am Reading... North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. I'm excited to read it and then watch the movies!! I'm also open to suggestions for books to read on the airplane .

I Am Hoping... to be done with Christmas shopping by Saturday. I'm also hoping that magically my holiday decorations will be put up on Saturday by someone other than me! (yeah, I'm still being a scrooge!)

I Am Hearing... my smooth jazz station at pandora.com. Great music!

Around the house... Emma is playing with her dolls. Remember Carly, Stitch and Rootbeer? I'm sorry to say that as of right now they've passed away. They went shopping with Emma in her room and I've just been informed that they don't feel good because they died.

One Of My Favorite Things... Live houseplants. I got a rough start learning how to grow things, but I think I'm doing pretty well. I've got nearly 20 houseplants all thriving (probably 3 additional ones that aren't). There's just something nice about having living houseplants in your home.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Guess a funeral service for Carly, Stitch and Rootbeer is in order. I'd hate to have dolls wasting away during the holidays. Other than that, I think I'll be at Little America again this year eating turkey for Thanksgiving.

Here Is A Picture Thought I Am Sharing...

This picture is what Thanksgiving is all about.

No, not just family.

It's more about the success and happiness after the struggle.

The purpose, the joy and reward for effort and work.

Truly I am Thankful!

Twilight

Yeah, it's 1:15pm on Friday and I STILL haven't seen this movie yet. Can you believe it? OME! (Oh My, Edward!)

Instead I'm surfing around the internet looking at all the media hype about Twilight. I just have to share a few of my favorites with you.

1. A Beginner's Guide to Twilight. Hysterical article to get you up to speed.

2. Cleolinda's Blog. All things Twilight (some mature content I've heard) from young adult Cleolinda.

3. Twilight Moms. Mom's obsessing over the Twilight books. My favorite quote from their website: DO YOU THINK YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE whose life turned upside down when you read Twilight?

I'm definitely not a Twilighter (unlike the obsessed KSL call-in lady who has read each book 15 times).

I clearly am above this kind of obsession and devotion to a book.

I think it's all rather funny, frankly.

So funny that I'm waiting until tomorrow to go to the movie with 20 of my closest friends! (high pitched squeal)

Things I Found Interesting Today

1. World's Biggest Liar Competition. It was reported that most entrants are men, interesting.

2. Milwaukee's Christmas Tree Lost Its Top. I was recently in Milwaukee when this 'terrible' accident happened, interesting. (Actually I wasn't - that was a lie, interesting)

3. Team Root Beer. Emma has asked us all to wear these shirts, interesting. The model choice for these shirts is . . . interesting.

4. Latter-Day Saints Have An Image Problem. "Those who know one Mormon have a worse opinion of us than those who don't know any Mormons." I'm a Mormon, interesting.

What have you found interesting today?

Scrooge

I saw three Christmas trees in people's houses today.

All decorated and lit up.

I just don't understand putting your tree up before Thanksgiving.

And taking it down just before Valentine's Day.

Or listening to Christmas music the day after Halloween.

I feel like I'm choking on Christmas

And it's not even Thanksgiving.

What's In A Name?

Emma has never really been interested in naming her dolls

. . . until now

I'd like you to meet some of her current favorite 'friends':

Stitch, Carly and RootBeer

Tolerance

* * Warning: Serious post ahead! * *

You all know how much I love to read and watch the news. I find a morbid fascination with the facts presented through this medium.

But recently I can't stop thinking about what is on the news and how often I find myself thinking of the word tolerance. Tolerance has come to mean acceptance, not just respect and kindness.

I enjoy this quote which reflects my feelings:

Tolerance obviously requires a non-contentious manner of relating toward one another’s differences. But tolerance does not require abandoning one’s standards or one’s opinions on political or public policy choices. Tolerance is a way of reacting to diversity, not a command to insulate it from examination. (Dallin H. Oaks)

Tolerance seems to be a one-way street -- everyone wants to receive it, not give it.

I'm frustrated by the twisting of the meaning of the word tolerance.

I need to put myself in 'Time Out' away from the media for awhile.

Why I Hate Christmas

Dear Toys R Us:

I wanted to take a minute to explain why I exited your store so quickly today. My hasty retreat must have left you wondering if your store was on fire. I regret to inform you that it was due to how ANGRY I was and that quickly leaving your store was better than me smacking your employees and going to jail.

I was in your store today to purchase a much 'wished' for item on my children's Christmas List. It's the item that the toy manufacturer has made too few of, in an attempt to generate 'excitement' this holiday season.

After phoning your store repeatedly this last week I was happy that you had received a shipment of the item I was wanting. In fact, you received 4 of these accursed wonderful items!

When I arrived at your store, however, there was but one left. I felt no alarm as it was only myself and one other group in your 'electronics' area. I spoke to one of your 'helpful' employees who informed me that I couldn't purchase the item without a slip of paper she needed to print out first.

Swell, no problems, I was fine to wait. Especially as the other group was checking out with a similar item, but not the one I was waiting for. This left the prized toy all to ME! Or so I thought . . . .

Until 'helpful' little cashier upsold the item I had come for to this other couple. Without a necessary slip of paper. When they DIDN'T EVEN WANT THE THING IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! And I was there FIRST~

Needless to say, after informing your cashiers of the situation, I beat a hasty retreat from your store before I BLEW UP!

I am looking forward to many more weeks of finding and tracking down this wanted item for my darling children who occassionally listen to me and do their chores. I want it so that I can have a freakin' Merry Christmas!~

May Your Holidays Be "Bright",

Wendy
"Holiday Lover"

Let's Talk Turkey

I'm on a one-woman crusade to persuade you all into thinking about Thanksgiving turkey in a new way!

Who wants to go through this hassle each Thanksgiving morning:




Instead you can drive yourself down to Moroni, Utah and purchase a delicious, juicy turkey roast at the Norbest outlet. This wonderful roast is incredible!


It cooks much quicker than those ginormous turkeys you buy at the grocery store.


It tastes so much better.


You don't have to stuff this thing. (Just put the stuffing in a crock pot - it's 'safer' that way anyhow!)


And if you go to Moroni to get it - it's a great price!


I'm headed there this week to pick me up a couple sweetheart roasts for our turkey dinner. I can taste it already!

Blogging Safety

Posting this week has been virtually impossible!

I have been sitting in front of this computer screen for hours upon hours each day, and the posts I want to write just aren't appropriate.

For instance, is it appropriate to inflame my neighbors with stories of their kids or the quirky things they do that irritate me? I write a post about it, but then luckily see the value of deleting it before I make it public.

In addition, I'm a bit freaked out that you are all stalking me and are going to kidnap my kids. (Sidenote: yesterday was a fine day to kidnap E**a. I would've helped you buckle her in and waved goodbye) So, I had to rethink my post about how E*m* loves to quote Nacho Libre. Maybe a movie director who likes her rendition of "Nipple Sqquuuueeeezzzzeee" would kidnap her and take her to Hollywood. Anyway, another deleted post to keep my kids safe.

That leaves me with little to say this morning. I'll just bemoan the fact that the U of U beat out TCU last night. Yes, I know that it's a good win for the conference, but it's a slap in my BYU face. J**h and E*th*n were equally upset, but we are looking forward to tomorrow's game.

We're also looking forward to J**f coming home today. Not that he's been away! I'm just saying that if he'd been gone all week, we'd think it was great he was coming back so that I could finally have a few minutes without kids hanging off me. (Wild kids hanging off of you should normally deter anyone from breaking in!)

I think I posted correctly today -- no neighbor secrets leaked out, my kid's names are secure and hopefully people are afraid to come here.

I did want to leave you with a recent family photo though (I know, I know . . . it's not safe to post pictures of your family, but it's so cute I HAD to share!)

Here's to blogging safety!

Why I Love Elections

I love election year because SNL is funny!



Don't forget to vote!!

Day Book Entry

It's Monday morning, and I'm tired as can be. Setting the clock back this weekend only encouraged me to stay up even later than usual.

So, I'm relying again on the Simple Woman's Daybook to help me with my blogging.

Outside My Window . . . . Is another beautiful fall day waiting for me. I anticipate the fresh smell of rain and sunny skies.

I Am Thinking . . . . of church. No, not deep religious thoughts of church. The thoughts are more along the lines of "Why can't every testimony meeting be THAT funny?"

From The Kitchen . . . . . Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup for dinner. With homemade noodles and everything! Yeah, I actually can cook this - but if I tried to make it for the neighbors It wouldn't turn out.

I Am Wearing . . . . Yup, you guessed it - Pajamas!

I Am Creating . . . . A deep and thoughtful analogy to use at the Arts Retreat on Friday. Do you think the Arts are more like a quilt or a white water rafting trip?

I Am Reading . . . Rebuilding the Front Porch of America

I Am Hearing . . . The new Tinker Bell movie that is babysitting Emma. Ah . . . my parenting skills at their finest!

Around The House . . . . . I see cleaning to do. Crap!

One of My Favorite Things . . . . Is watching a BYU game where they play well. Saturday's game was not one of my Favorite Things.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week. . . . . . Provide minimal effort to cleaning the house and cooking while Jeff is out of town. And then a few hours before he comes home I'll rush around making everything perfect so that he thinks I've been ever so busy while he was gone.

Here's A Picture Thought I'm Sharing With You . . . . . .

It's one of my first digital scrapbooking pages! I'm completely hooked to scrapbooking this way.

Hope your week is GREAT!